Cycling, Bicycle, Canaries, Spain, mountain roads

OCD Cycloclimbing

SPAIN - CANARY ISLANDS

The Canaries are far enough south to provide cycling all year round. The top pictures here of Tenerife were taken in November 1999 by George Standen, and got this page started with some nice shots. A mountain bike was ideal for tours up the side of the main feature - Mount Teide - with its trails through huge expanses of volcanic rock.

Matthew Sidford has added more excellent pictures of Tenerife in May 2001 (taken in November 1998) plus the sections below on La Gomera (taken in October 2000) and La Palma (November 1998). As you will see they are all are in spectacular areas - so thanks to Matthew for these welcome additions.

There is an OCD guide available to Members for Tenerife

(A larger image of each picture is available by clicking on the small picture. These larger pictures are 600 pixels across and best viewed on a 800 x 600 display)

TENERIFE

The highest of the peaks is on Tenerife at Mount Teide, 3718m. This is the highest mountain in Spain and, it is claimed, in the World if you measure it from the bottom of the direct slope to the sea bed to the west at over 6000m down!

Meanwhile the spikes of the Las Canadas peaks are equally spectacular to the south of Teide.

	Mount Teide, a volcano at 3718m is in the background. (GS, 11/1999)


Las Canadas is in the background (GS, 11/1999).
	Teide again (GS/11/1999).
	Teide from Cruz de Gala. Few maps mark this dramatic steep road to the Cruz de Gala peak, altitude 1354m. It starts at the Puerto de Erjos (1117m)in north-western Tenerife. The volcanic cone of Mount Teide can be seen when looking east. (MS. 11/1998)
Cruz de Gala panorama. From the radio mast at the top, the whole of north-western Tenerife can be seen, with its impressive coastal canyons. (MS 11/1998)
	Degollada de Cherfe. This road winds impressively down from the 1059 metre pass into the scenic Masca canyon, in north-western Tenerife. Truly breathtaking stuff, but look out for the tourist coaches. (MS 11/1998)

LA GOMERA

La Gomera is about 25 km west of Tenerife. Its highest point is Garajonay at 1487m.

Valle Gran Rey 1. In eastern La Gomera is the justly famous "valley of the kings", with a modern road that snakes down from 1000 metres into this breathtaking canyon. It ends at a small beachside resort, and the only way out from there is to reclimb the same way! (MS. 10/2000)

Valle Gran Rey 2. The fertile lower slopes of the canyon are painstakingly terraced smallholdings, on which Gomerans grow maize, potatoes, bananas and date palms. (MS 10/2000)

Valle Gran Rey 3. The tunnels of the new road leave still accessible sections of rubble-strewn abandoned road for cyclists to explore. This picture shows the basalt geology of the island. (MS. 10/2000)

Gomera steep street. There are some spectacularly steep side streets in the Canary Islands, often providing very painful short cuts between hairpins on the major climbs! This one is in Hermigua, in northern La Gomera, and probably exceeds 25% (MS 10/2000).

Hermigua 1. The hamlet of Monteforte, near Hermigua, is probably the greenest part of coastal La Gomera. On the skyline is Enchereda, a peak at 1065 metres. A road tunnel at 650 metres pierces through this mountain range to access the island's capital and ferry port, San Sebastien (MS 10/2000).

La Dama Canyon. The south of La Gomera is noticeably much drier. The dead-end track shown descends to a factory on the beach! The only way out is to climb back up to La Dama village, and make the long, steep ascent on tarmac to the centre of the island. It is possible to climb to the highest point on La Gomera - Garajonay (1487m) - from the beach (MS 10/2000).

Gomera shack. Near Los Loros and an unnamed pass at 720 metres, accessible from Vallehermoso in the north of the island. Goats lived in here, and possibly their owner too, judging by the paned upstairs window. (MS 10/2000).

Gomera goat. This goat heralded the end of the track, not far beyond the Los Loros pass. (MS 10/2000).

LA PALMA

The island has a 2423m peak and is to the east of Tenerife.

La Palma Barranco. The Barranco de las Angustias ("valley of fear"), is on the much drier east side of La Palma. The picture was taken from a track that leads into the awesome Caldera de Taburiente at the centre of the island. (MS. 11/1998)
	El Pilar road. This 1481 metre pass divides the geologically distinct old and new "cumbres" that make up volcanic La Palma. Black lava is thickly coated with Canary pine needles up here, and there are views to the 2426 metre peak of the island on the horizon. The pass can be climbed continuously from sea level on both sides. (MS. 11/1998).
La Cumbrecita view. A steep road through pine forest in central La Palma leads to this pass at 1309 metres. From here there are tracks which may be rideable. It is an excellent viewpoint over the Caldera de Taburiente, a vast natural cauldron, that perpetually bubbles with rising wisps of cloud. (MS. 11/1998)

LINKS TO OTHER SITES ON TENERIFE

Trento Bike Pages, item with some more nice pictures

Another tour account with some nice pictures

Return to OCD Index to Links.

Return to OCD Cycloclimbing Home Page

Valle Gran Rey 1. In eastern La Gomera is the justly famous "valley of the kings", with a modern road that snakes down from 1000 metres into this breathtaking canyon. It ends at a small beachside resort, and the only way out from there is to reclimb the same way! (MS. 10/2000)
	Valle Gran Rey 2. The fertile lower slopes of the canyon are painstakingly terraced smallholdings, on which Gomerans grow maize, potatoes, bananas and date palms. (MS 10/2000)
Valle Gran Rey 3. The tunnels of the new road leave still accessible sections of rubble-strewn abandoned road for cyclists to explore. This picture shows the basalt geology of the island. (MS. 10/2000)
	Gomera steep street. There are some spectacularly steep side streets in the Canary Islands, often providing very painful short cuts between hairpins on the major climbs! This one is in Hermigua, in northern La Gomera, and probably exceeds 25% (MS 10/2000).
Hermigua 1. The hamlet of Monteforte, near Hermigua, is probably the greenest part of coastal La Gomera. On the skyline is Enchereda, a peak at 1065 metres. A road tunnel at 650 metres pierces through this mountain range to access the island's capital and ferry port, San Sebastien (MS 10/2000).
	La Dama Canyon. The south of La Gomera is noticeably much drier. The dead-end track shown descends to a factory on the beach! The only way out is to climb back up to La Dama village, and make the long, steep ascent on tarmac to the centre of the island. It is possible to climb to the highest point on La Gomera - Garajonay (1487m) - from the beach (MS 10/2000).
Gomera shack. Near Los Loros and an unnamed pass at 720 metres, accessible from Vallehermoso in the north of the island. Goats lived in here, and possibly their owner too, judging by the paned upstairs window. (MS 10/2000).
	Gomera goat. This goat heralded the end of the track, not far beyond the Los Loros pass. (MS 10/2000).